Imran Khan’s Connection With the City of Jalandhar

Did you know that Pak’s PM-in-waiting Imran Khan has a special connection with the city of Jalandhar?

Jalandhar’s famous ‘Peeli Kothi’ belonged to Khan’s maternal family.

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma

Did you know that ace cricketer, politician and now Pakistan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan has a special connection with a city across the border – India’s Jalandhar?

Jalandhar’s famous ‘Peeli Kothi’ belonged to the maternal side of Khan’s family. The building is well known all across the city, so much so that the entire locality is called by the same name. The family also owns four-five more houses in the city.

His maternal side of the family hails from Jalandhar and was instrumental in setting up the Islamia College in the early 1940s. They mostly hailed from Basti Nau and Basti Banishmanda areas.

During partition, the family moved to Pakistan, leaving behind the house. The ‘Peeli Kothi’ was later converted to the Guru Nanak Dev University College.

Even though the college has moved out and found a new address, the ‘Peeli Kothi’ still stands tall. It has been bought over by an NRI.

My parents told me that this was Imran Khan’s grandmother’s residence. They had beautiful lawns and beautiful rooms. It still holds the same elegance. 

Madan Lal, Resident

Imran Khan last visited Jalandhar in 2004; whereas 25 of his relatives visited in 2014.